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Bekirian C, Valsecchi I, Bachellier-Bassi S, Scandola C, Guijarro JI, Chauvel M, Mourer T, Gow NAR, Aimanianda VK, d'Enfert C, Fontaine T. β-1,6-Glucan plays a central role in the structure and remodeling of the bilaminate fungal cell wall. eLife 2024; 13:RP100569. [PMID: 39636210 PMCID: PMC11620752 DOI: 10.7554/elife.100569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The cell wall of human fungal pathogens plays critical roles as an architectural scaffold and as a target and modulator of the host immune response. Although the cell wall of the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans is intensively studied, one of the major fibrillar components in its cell wall, β-1,6-glucan, has been largely neglected. Here, we show that β-1,6-glucan is essential for bilayered cell wall organization, cell wall integrity, and filamentous growth. For the first time, we show that β-1,6-glucan production compensates the defect in mannan elongation in the outer layer of the cell wall. In addition, β-1,6-glucan dynamics are also coordinated by host environmental stimuli and stresses with wall remodeling, where the regulation of β-1,6-glucan structure and chain length is a crucial process. As we point out that β-1,6-glucan is exposed at the yeast surface and modulate immune response, β-1,6-glucan must be considered a key factor in host-pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Bekirian
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, INRAE, USC2019, Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité FongiquesParisFrance
| | - Isabel Valsecchi
- EA DYNAMYC 7380, Faculté de Santé, Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC), École Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort (EnvA), USC AnsesCréteilFrance
| | - Sophie Bachellier-Bassi
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, INRAE, USC2019, Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité FongiquesParisFrance
| | - Cyril Scandola
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Ultrastructural Bioimaging UnitParisFrance
| | - J Inaki Guijarro
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3528, Biological NMR and HDX-MS Technological PlatformParisFrance
| | - Murielle Chauvel
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, INRAE, USC2019, Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité FongiquesParisFrance
| | - Thierry Mourer
- Institut Pasteur, Advanced Molecular Virology GroupParisFrance
| | - Neil AR Gow
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of ExeterExeterUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Christophe d'Enfert
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, INRAE, USC2019, Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité FongiquesParisFrance
| | - Thierry Fontaine
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, INRAE, USC2019, Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité FongiquesParisFrance
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2
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Cui FJ, Fu X, Sun L, Zan XY, Meng LJ, Sun WJ. Recent insights into glucans biosynthesis and engineering strategies in edible fungi. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2024; 44:1262-1279. [PMID: 38105513 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2023.2289341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Fungal α/β-glucans have significant importance in cellular functions including cell wall structure, host-pathogen interactions and energy storage, and wide application in high-profile fields, including food, nutrition, and pharmaceuticals. Fungal species and their growth/developmental stages result in a diversity of glucan contents, structures and bioactivities. Substantial progresses have been made to elucidate the fine structures and functions, and reveal the potential molecular synthesis pathway of fungal α/β-glucans. Herein, we review the current knowledge about the biosynthetic machineries, including: precursor UDP-glucose synthesis, initiation, elongation/termination and remodeling of α/β-glucan chains, and molecular regulation to maximally produce glucans in edible fungi. This review would provide future perspectives to biosynthesize the targeted glucans and reveal the catalytic mechanism of enzymes associated with glucan synthesis, including: UDP-glucose pyrophosphate phosphorylases (UGP), glucan synthases, and glucanosyltransferases in edible fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng-Jie Cui
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, P. R. China
- Jiangxi Provincial Engineering and Technology Center for Food Additives Bio-production, Dexing, P. R. China
| | - Xin Fu
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, P. R. China
| | - Lei Sun
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, P. R. China
| | - Xin-Yi Zan
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, P. R. China
| | - Li-Juan Meng
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, P. R. China
| | - Wen-Jing Sun
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, P. R. China
- Jiangxi Provincial Engineering and Technology Center for Food Additives Bio-production, Dexing, P. R. China
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3
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Wang M, Pan J, Xiang W, You Z, Zhang Y, Wang J, Zhang A. β-glucan: a potent adjuvant in immunotherapy for digestive tract tumors. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1424261. [PMID: 39100668 PMCID: PMC11294916 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1424261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The immunotherapy for gastrointestinal tumors, as a significant research direction in the field of oncology treatment in recent years, has garnered extensive attention due to its potential therapeutic efficacy and promising clinical application prospects. Recent advances in immunotherapy notwithstanding, challenges persist, such as side effects, the complexity of the tumor immune microenvironment, variable patient responses, and drug resistance. Consequently, there is a pressing need to explore novel adjunctive therapeutic modalities. β-glucan, an immunomodulatory agent, has exhibited promising anti-tumor efficacy in preclinical studies involving colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, and gastric cancer, while also mitigating the adverse reactions associated with chemotherapy and enhancing patients' quality of life. However, further clinical and fundamental research is warranted to comprehensively evaluate its therapeutic potential and underlying biological mechanisms. In the future, β-glucan holds promise as an adjunctive treatment for gastrointestinal tumors, potentially bringing significant benefits to patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiyu Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai Fourth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jinhua Pan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chengdu Pidu District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Wu Xiang
- School of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Zilong You
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- School of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Junyu Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai Fourth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Anren Zhang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai Fourth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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4
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Fayed B, Shakartalla SB, Sabbah H, Dalle H, Tannira M, Senok A, Soliman SSM. Transcriptome Analysis of Human Dermal Cells Infected with Candida auris Identified Unique Pathogenesis/Defensive Mechanisms Particularly Ferroptosis. Mycopathologia 2024; 189:65. [PMID: 38990436 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-024-00868-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Candida auris is an emerging multi-drug resistant yeast that can cause life-threatening infections. A recent report clarified the ability of C. auris to form a biofilm with enhanced drug resistance properties in the host skin's deep layers. The formed biofilm may initiate further bloodstream spread and immune escape. Therefore, we propose that secreted chemicals from the biofilm may facilitate fungal pathogenesis. In response to this interaction, the host skin may develop potential defensive mechanisms. Comparative transcriptomics was performed on the host dermal cells in response to indirect interaction with C. auris biofilm through Transwell inserts compared to planktonic cells. Furthermore, the effect of antifungals including caspofungin and fluconazole was studied. The obtained data showed that the dermal cells exhibited different transcriptional responses. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Reactome analyses identified potential defensive responses employed by the dermal cells and potential toxicity induced by C. auris. Additionally, our data indicated that the dominating toxic effect was mediated by ferroptosis; which was validated by qRT-PCR, cytotoxicity assay, and flow cytometry. On the other hand, the viability of C. auris biofilm was enhanced and accompanied by upregulation of MDR1, and KRE6 upon interaction with dermal cells; both genes play significant roles in drug resistance and biofilm maturation, respectively. This study for the first-time shed light on the dominating defensive responses of human dermal cells, microbe colonization site, to C. auris biofilm and its toxic effects. Further, it demonstrates how C. auris biofilm responds to the defensive mechanisms developed by the human dermal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahgat Fayed
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, UAE
- Chemistry of Natural and Microbial Products, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Sarra B Shakartalla
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, UAE
- College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, UAE
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Gezira, P.O.Box. 21111, Wad Medani, Sudan
| | - Hassan Sabbah
- AbbVie BioPharmaceuticals, P.O. Box 118052, Dubai, UAE
| | - Hala Dalle
- AbbVie BioPharmaceuticals, Kuwait City, Kuwait
| | | | - Abiola Senok
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Building 14 Dubai Healthcare City, P.O.Box 505055, Dubai, UAE
| | - Sameh S M Soliman
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, UAE.
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, UAE.
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Wang Y, Li D, Li Z, Cui Z, Ye X. Functional analysis of a novel endo-β-1,6-glucanase MoGlu16 and its application in detecting cell wall β-1,6-glucan of Magnaporthe oryzae. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1429065. [PMID: 39027104 PMCID: PMC11254853 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1429065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
As an essential component of the fungal cell wall, β-1,6-glucan has an important role in the growth and development of fungi, but its distribution has not been investigated in Magnaporthe oryzae. Here, a novel β-1,6-glucanase from M. oryzae, MoGlu16, was cloned and expressed in Pichia pastoris. The enzyme was highly active on pustulan, with a specific activity of 219.0 U/mg at pH 5.0 and 50°C, and showed great selectivity for continuous β-1,6-glycosidic bonding polysaccharides. Based on this, β-1,6-glucan was selectively visualized in the vegetative hyphae, conidia and bud tubes of M. oryzae using a hydrolytically inactive GFP-tagged MoGlu16 with point mutations at the catalytic position (His-MoGlu16E236A-Gfp). The spore germination and appressorium formation were significantly inhibited after incubation of 105/ml conidia with 0.03 μg/μl MoGlu16. Mycelia treated with MoGlu16 produced reactive oxygen species and triggered the cell wall integrity pathway, increasing the expression levels of genes involved in cell wall polysaccharide synthesis. These results revealed that MoGlu16 participated in the remodeling of cell wall in M. oryzae, laying a foundation for the analysis of cell wall structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanxin Wang
- College of Life Sciences of Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Sciences of Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ding Li
- Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Veterinary Immunology & Engineering, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhoukun Li
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Sciences of Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhongli Cui
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Sciences of Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xianfeng Ye
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Sciences of Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
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Bakir G, Dahms TES, Martin-Yken H, Bechtel HA, Gough KM. Saccharomyces cerevisiae CellWall Remodeling in the Absence of Knr4 and Kre6 Revealed by Nano-FourierTransform Infrared Spectroscopy. APPLIED SPECTROSCOPY 2024; 78:355-364. [PMID: 38378014 PMCID: PMC10935619 DOI: 10.1177/00037028231213658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
The cell wall integrity (CWI) signaling pathway regulates yeast cell wall biosynthesis, cell division, and responses to external stress. The cell wall, comprised of a dense network of chitin, β-1,3- and β-1,6- glucans, and mannoproteins, is very thin, <100 nm. Alterations in cell wall composition may activate the CWI pathway. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a model yeast, was used to study the role of individual wall components in altering the structure and biophysical properties of the yeast cell wall. Near-field Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (nano-FT-IR) was used for the first direct, spectrochemical identification of cell wall composition in a background (wild-type) strain and two deletion mutants from the yeast knock-out collection: kre6Δ and knr4Δ. Killer toxin resistant 6 (Kre6) is an integral membrane protein required for biosynthesis of β-1,6-glucan, while Knr4 is a cell signaling protein involved in the control of cell wall biosynthesis, in particular, biosynthesis and deposition of chitin. Complementary spectral data were obtained with far-field (FF)-FT-IR, in transmission, and with attenuated total reflectance (ATR) spectromicroscopy with 3-10 μm wavelength-dependent spatial resolution. The FF-FT-IR spectra of cells and spectra of isolated cell wall components showed that components of the cell body dominated transmission spectra and were still evident in ATR spectra. In contrast, the nano-FT-IR at ∼25 nm spatial resolution could be used to characterize the yeast wall chemical structure. Our results show that the β-1,6-glucan content is decreased in kre6Δ, while all glucan content is decreased in the knr4Δ cell wall. The latter may be thinner than in wild type, since not only are mannan and chitin detectable by nano-FT-IR, but also lipid membranes and protein, indicative of cell interior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gorkem Bakir
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Tanya E. S. Dahms
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Helene Martin-Yken
- TBI, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INRAE, INSA, Toulouse, France
- LAAS–CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Hans A. Bechtel
- Advanced Light Source Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Kathleen M. Gough
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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7
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Memariani M, Memariani H. Antifungal properties of cathelicidin LL-37: current knowledge and future research directions. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 40:34. [PMID: 38057654 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-023-03852-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
The threat of fungal diseases is substantially underestimated worldwide, but they have serious consequences for humans, animals, and plants. Given the limited number of existing antifungal drugs together with the emergence of drug-resistant strains, many researchers have actively sought alternatives or adjuvants to antimycotics. The best way to tackle these issues is to unearth potential antifungal agents with new modes of action. Antimicrobial peptides are being hailed as a promising source of novel antimicrobials since they exhibit rapid and broad-spectrum microbicidal activities with a reduced likelihood of developing drug resistance. Recent years have witnessed an explosion in knowledge on microbicidal activity of LL-37, the sole human cathelicidin. Herein, we provide a summary of the current understanding about antifungal properties of LL-37, with particular emphasis on its molecular mechanisms. We further illustrate fruitful areas for future research. LL-37 is able to inhibit the growth of clinically and agronomically relevant fungi including Aspergillus, Candida, Colletotrichum, Fusarium, Malassezia, Pythium, and Trichophyton. Destruction of the cell wall integrity, membrane permeabilization, induction of oxidative stress, disruption of endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis, formation of autophagy-like structures, alterations in expression of numerous fungal genes, and inhibition of cell cycle progression are the key mechanisms underlying antifungal effects of LL-37. Burgeoning evidence also suggests that LL-37 may act as a potential anti-virulence peptide. It is hoped that this review will not only motivate researchers to conduct more detailed studies in this field, but also inspire further innovations in the design of LL-37-based drugs for the treatment of fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mojtaba Memariani
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamed Memariani
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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8
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Novel Insights into the Mechanism Underlying High Polysaccharide Yield in Submerged Culture of Ganoderma lucidum Revealed by Transcriptome and Proteome Analyses. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11030772. [PMID: 36985345 PMCID: PMC10055881 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11030772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Polysaccharides are crucial dietary supplements and traditional pharmacological components of Ganoderma lucidum; however, the mechanisms responsible for high polysaccharide yields in G. lucidum remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the high yield of polysaccharides in submerged cultures of G. lucidum using transcriptomic and proteomic analyses. Several glycoside hydrolase (GH) genes and proteins, which are associated with the degradation of fungal cell walls, were significantly upregulated under high polysaccharide yield conditions. They mainly belonged to the GH3, GH5, GH16, GH17, GH18, GH55, GH79, GH128, GH152, and GH154 families. Additionally, the results suggested that the cell wall polysaccharide could be degraded by GHs, which is beneficial for extracting more intracellular polysaccharides from cultured mycelia. Furthermore, some of the degraded polysaccharides were released into the culture broth, which is beneficial for obtaining more extracellular polysaccharides. Our findings provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying the roles that GH family genes play to regulate high polysaccharide yields in G. lucidum.
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Transcriptome Comparison between Two Strains of Ustilago esculenta during the Mating. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 9:jof9010032. [PMID: 36675853 PMCID: PMC9862937 DOI: 10.3390/jof9010032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Ustilago esculenta is a smut fungus that obligately infects Zizania latifolia and stimulates tissue swelling to form galls. Unlike T-type, MT-type U. esculenta can only proliferate within plant tissues and infect the offspring of their host. Production of telispores, haploid life, and plant cuticle penetration are not essential for it, which may lead to the degeneration in these processes. Transcriptome changes during the mating of T- and MT-type U. esculenta were studied. The functions of several secreted proteins were further confirmed by knock-out mutants. Our results showed that MT-type U. esculenta can receive environmental signals in mating and circumstance sensing as T-type does. However, MT-type U. esculenta takes a longer time for conjunction tube formation and cytoplasmic fusion. A large number of genes encoding secreted proteins are enriched in the purple co-expression module. They are significantly up-regulated in the late stage of mating in T-type U. esculenta, indicating their relationship with infecting. The knock-out of g6161 (xylanase) resulted in an attenuated symptom. The knock-out of g943 or g4344 (function unidentified) completely blocked the infection at an early stage. This study provides a comprehensive comparison between T- and MT-type during mating and identifies two candidate effectors for further study.
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10
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Liu Y, Ma X, Long Y, Yao S, Wei C, Han X, Gan B, Yan J, Xie B. Effects of β-1,6-Glucan Synthase Gene ( FfGS6) Overexpression on Stress Response and Fruit Body Development in Flammulina filiformis. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:1753. [PMID: 36292637 PMCID: PMC9601887 DOI: 10.3390/genes13101753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
β-1, 6-glucan synthase is a key enzyme of β-1, 6-glucan synthesis, which plays a vital role in the cell wall cross-linking of fungi. However, the role of the β-1, 6-glucan synthase gene in the development of the fruiting body and the stress response of macrofungi is largely unknown. In this study, four overexpression transformants of the β-1, 6-glucan synthase gene (FfGS6) were successfully obtained, and gene function was studied in Flammulina filiformis. The overexpression of FfGS6 can increase the width of mycelium cells and improve the tolerance ability under mechanical injury and oxidative stress. Moreover, FfGS6 gene expression fluctuated in up-regulation during the recovery process of mycelium injury but showed a negative correlation with H2O2 concentration. Fruiting body phenotype tests showed that mycelia's recovery ability after scratching improved when the FfGS6 gene was overexpressed. However, primordia formation and the stipe elongation ability were significantly inhibited. Our findings indicate that FfGS6 is involved in regulating mycelial cell morphology, the mycelial stress response, and fruit body development in F. filiformis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Liu
- Mycological Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Xinbin Ma
- Mycological Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Ying Long
- Mycological Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Sen Yao
- Mycological Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Chuanzheng Wei
- Mycological Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Xing Han
- Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu 610213, China
| | - Bingcheng Gan
- Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu 610213, China
| | - Junjie Yan
- Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu 610213, China
| | - Baogui Xie
- Mycological Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
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11
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Shahi G, Kumar M, Khandelwal NK, Banerjee A, Sarkar P, Kumari S, Esquivel BD, Chauhan N, Chattopadhyay A, White TC, Gaur NA, Singh A, Prasad R. Inositol Phosphoryl Transferase, Ipt1, Is a Critical Determinant of Azole Resistance and Virulence Phenotypes in Candida glabrata. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8070651. [PMID: 35887407 PMCID: PMC9322651 DOI: 10.3390/jof8070651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we have specifically blocked a key step of sphingolipid (SL) biosynthesis in Candida glabrata by disruption of the orthologs of ScIpt1 and ScSkn1. Based on their close homology with S. cerevisiae counterparts, the proteins are predicted to catalyze the addition of a phosphorylinositol group onto mannosyl inositolphosphoryl ceramide (MIPC) to form mannosyl diinositolphosphoryl ceramide (M(IP)2C), which accounts for the majority of complex SL structures in S. cerevisiae membranes. High throughput lipidome analysis confirmed the accumulation of MIPC structures in ΔCgipt1 and ΔCgskn1 cells, albeit to lesser extent in the latter. Noticeably, ΔCgipt1 cells showed an increased susceptibility to azoles; however, ΔCgskn1 cells showed no significant changes in the drug susceptibility profiles. Interestingly, the azole susceptible phenotype of ΔCgipt1 cells seems to be independent of the ergosterol content. ΔCgipt1 cells displayed altered lipid homeostasis, increased membrane fluidity as well as high diffusion of radiolabeled fluconazole (3H-FLC), which could together influence the azole susceptibility of C. glabrata. Furthermore, in vivo experiments also confirmed compromised virulence of the ΔCgipt1 strain. Contrarily, specific functions of CgSkn1 remain unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garima Shahi
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology and Integrative Science and Health, Amity University Gurgaon, Gurgaon 122412, India; (G.S.); (M.K.); (A.B.)
| | - Mohit Kumar
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology and Integrative Science and Health, Amity University Gurgaon, Gurgaon 122412, India; (G.S.); (M.K.); (A.B.)
- Yeast Biofuel Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi 110067, India; (S.K.); (N.A.G.)
| | | | - Atanu Banerjee
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology and Integrative Science and Health, Amity University Gurgaon, Gurgaon 122412, India; (G.S.); (M.K.); (A.B.)
| | - Parijat Sarkar
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad 500007, India; (P.S.); (A.C.)
| | - Sonam Kumari
- Yeast Biofuel Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi 110067, India; (S.K.); (N.A.G.)
| | - Brooke D. Esquivel
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Missouri at Kansas City, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA; (B.D.E.); (T.C.W.)
| | - Neeraj Chauhan
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA;
| | - Amitabha Chattopadhyay
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad 500007, India; (P.S.); (A.C.)
| | - Theodore C. White
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Missouri at Kansas City, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA; (B.D.E.); (T.C.W.)
| | - Naseem A. Gaur
- Yeast Biofuel Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi 110067, India; (S.K.); (N.A.G.)
| | - Ashutosh Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226007, India
- Correspondence: (A.S.); (R.P.)
| | - Rajendra Prasad
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology and Integrative Science and Health, Amity University Gurgaon, Gurgaon 122412, India; (G.S.); (M.K.); (A.B.)
- Correspondence: (A.S.); (R.P.)
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12
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Abstract
The limited number of available effective agents necessitates the development of new antifungals. We report that jervine, a jerveratrum-type steroidal alkaloid isolated from Veratrum californicum, has antifungal activity. Phenotypic comparisons of cell wall mutants, K1 killer toxin susceptibility testing, and quantification of cell wall components revealed that β-1,6-glucan biosynthesis was significantly inhibited by jervine. Temperature-sensitive mutants defective in essential genes involved in β-1,6-glucan biosynthesis, including BIG1, KEG1, KRE5, KRE9, and ROT1, were hypersensitive to jervine. In contrast, point mutations in KRE6 or its paralog SKN1 produced jervine resistance, suggesting that jervine targets Kre6 and Skn1. Jervine exhibited broad-spectrum antifungal activity and was effective against human-pathogenic fungi, including Candida parapsilosis and Candida krusei. It was also effective against phytopathogenic fungi, including Botrytis cinerea and Puccinia recondita. Jervine exerted a synergistic effect with fluconazole. Therefore, jervine, a jerveratrum-type steroidal alkaloid used in pharmaceutical products, represents a new class of antifungals active against mycoses and plant-pathogenic fungi. IMPORTANCE Non-Candida albicans Candida species (NCAC) are on the rise as a cause of mycosis. Many antifungal drugs are less effective against NCAC, limiting the available therapeutic agents. Here, we report that jervine, a jerveratrum-type steroidal alkaloid, is effective against NCAC and phytopathogenic fungi. Jervine acts on Kre6 and Skn1, which are involved in β-1,6-glucan biosynthesis. The skeleton of jerveratrum-type steroidal alkaloids has been well studied, and more recently, their anticancer properties have been investigated. Therefore, jerveratrum-type alkaloids could potentially be applied as treatments for fungal infections and cancer.
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Ibe C, Oladele RO, Alamir O. Our pursuit for effective antifungal agents targeting fungal cell wall components, where are we? Int J Antimicrob Agents 2021; 59:106477. [PMID: 34798234 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2021.106477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Invasive mycotic infections account for an unacceptably high mortality rates in humans. These infections are initiated by the fungal cell wall which mediates host-fungi interactions. The cell wall is fused to the physiology of fungi, and it is involved in essential functions in the entire cell functionality. Components of the cell wall are synthesised and modified in the cell wall space by the activities of cell wall proteins through a range of signalling pathways that have only been described in many fungi, therefore making them suitable drug targets. The echinocandins class of cell wall-active drugs block cell wall β-1,3-glucan biosynthesis through inhibiting the catalytic subunit of the synthetic protein complex. Resistance to echinocandins can be through the acquisition of single nucleotide polymorphisms and/or through activation of cell wall signalling pathways resulting in altered cell wall proteome and elevated chitin content in the cell wall. Countering the cell wall remodelling process will enhance the effectiveness of β-1,3-glucan-active antifungal agents. Cell surface proteins are also important antifungal targets which can be used to develop rapid and robust diagnostics and more effective therapeutics. The cell wall remains a crucial target in fungi that needs to be harnessed to combat mycotic infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chibuike Ibe
- Department of Microbiology, Abia State University, PMB 2000 Uturu, Abia State, Nigeria.
| | - Rita O Oladele
- Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
| | - Omran Alamir
- Natural Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, Al Asimah, Kuwait
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14
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Li Q, Chen J, Liu J, Yu H, Zhang L, Song C, Li Y, Jiang N, Tan Q, Shang X, Gu Y. De novo Sequencing and Comparative Transcriptome Analyses Provide First Insights Into Polysaccharide Biosynthesis During Fruiting Body Development of Lentinula edodes. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:627099. [PMID: 34326817 PMCID: PMC8313990 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.627099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Polysaccharides separated from Lentinula edodes are well known for their medicinal properties. However, the precise molecular mechanisms of polysaccharide biosynthesis in L. edodes remain unclear. In this study, the fruiting bodies of L. edodes in four developmental stages with significant differences in polysaccharide yield were collected, and the characteristics of polysaccharides were studied. De novo sequencing and comparative transcriptomic analysis were performed by using high-throughput Illumina RNA-sequencing. KS1P30, KS2P30, KS3P30, and KS4P30 were obtained from the four developmental stages, respectively, by hot water extraction and 30% ethanol precipitation. These four polysaccharides had good immune activity in vitro; all of them were β-glucopyranose with a high molecular weight. Glucose was the main monosaccharide component of these polysaccharides. High-quality clean reads (57.88, 53.17, 53.28, and 47.56 million for different growth stages) and mapping ratios ranging from 84.75 to 90.11% were obtained. In total, 11,493 (96.56%) unigenes and 18,924 (97.46%) transcripts were successfully annotated in five public databases. The biosynthetic pathway and related genes of LEFP30 were mined. The molecular mechanism of LEFP30 yield change in the different developmental stages was predicted. The results provide some insights into the possible mechanisms involved in the biosynthetic pathway of this kind of polysaccharide in L. edodes fruiting bodies. They also indicate that candidate genes can be used as important resources for biotechnology and molecular breeding to regulate L. edodes fruiting body polysaccharide biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaozhen Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding, Institute of Edible Fungi, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Chen
- College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jianyu Liu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding, Institute of Edible Fungi, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Hailong Yu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding, Institute of Edible Fungi, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Lujun Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding, Institute of Edible Fungi, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunyan Song
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding, Institute of Edible Fungi, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding, Institute of Edible Fungi, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Ning Jiang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding, Institute of Edible Fungi, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Qi Tan
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding, Institute of Edible Fungi, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaodong Shang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding, Institute of Edible Fungi, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunfu Gu
- College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
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15
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Bakuła Z, Siedlecki P, Gromadka R, Gawor J, Gromadka A, Pomorski JJ, Panagiotopoulou H, Jagielski T. A first insight into the genome of Prototheca wickerhamii, a major causative agent of human protothecosis. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:168. [PMID: 33750287 PMCID: PMC7941945 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07491-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colourless microalgae of the Prototheca genus are the only known plants that have consistently been implicated in a range of clinically relevant opportunistic infections in both animals and humans. The Prototheca algae are emerging pathogens, whose incidence has increased importantly over the past two decades. Prototheca wickerhamii is a major human pathogen, responsible for at least 115 cases worldwide. Although the algae are receiving more attention nowadays, there is still a substantial knowledge gap regarding their biology, and pathogenicity in particular. Here we report, for the first time, the complete nuclear genome, organelle genomes, and transcriptome of the P. wickerhamii type strain ATCC 16529. RESULTS The assembled genome size was of 16.7 Mbp, making it the smallest and most compact genome sequenced so far among the protothecans. Key features of the genome included a high overall GC content (64.5%), a high number (6081) and proportion (45.9%) of protein-coding genes, and a low repetitive sequence content (2.2%). The vast majority (90.6%) of the predicted genes were confirmed with the corresponding transcripts upon RNA-sequencing analysis. Most (93.2%) of the genes had their putative function assigned when searched against the InterProScan database. A fourth (23.3%) of the genes were annotated with an enzymatic activity possibly associated with the adaptation to the human host environment. The P. wickerhamii genome encoded a wide array of possible virulence factors, including those already identified in two model opportunistic fungal pathogens, i.e. Candida albicans and Trichophyton rubrum, and thought to be involved in invasion of the host or elicitation of the adaptive stress response. Approximately 6% of the P. wickerhamii genes matched a Pathogen-Host Interaction Database entry and had a previously experimentally proven role in the disease development. Furthermore, genes coding for proteins (e.g. ATPase, malate dehydrogenase) hitherto considered as potential virulence factors of Prototheca spp. were demonstrated in the P. wickerhamii genome. CONCLUSIONS Overall, this study is the first to describe the genetic make-up of P. wickerhamii and discovers proteins possibly involved in the development of protothecosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zofia Bakuła
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, I. Miecznikowa 1, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Paweł Siedlecki
- Department of Systems Biology, University of Warsaw, I. Miecznikowa 1, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland.,Department of Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, A. Pawińskiego 5a, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Robert Gromadka
- DNA Sequencing and Synthesis Facility, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, A. Pawińskiego 5a, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jan Gawor
- DNA Sequencing and Synthesis Facility, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, A. Pawińskiego 5a, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Gromadka
- Department of Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, A. Pawińskiego 5a, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jan J Pomorski
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wilcza 64, 00-679, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Hanna Panagiotopoulou
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wilcza 64, 00-679, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Tomasz Jagielski
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, I. Miecznikowa 1, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland.
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16
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Wang Y, Wang N, Liu J, Zhang Y, Li X, Han Q. Homolog of Saccharomyces cerevisiae SLX4 is required for cell recovery from MMS-induced DNA damage in Candida albicans. FEMS Yeast Res 2021; 21:6145020. [PMID: 33606011 DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/foab010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
SLX4 is a scaffold to coordinate the action of structure-specific endonucleases that are required for homologous recombination and DNA repair. In view of ScSLX4 functions in the maintenance and stability of the genome in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we have explored the roles of CaSLX4 in Candida albicans. Here, we constructed slx4Δ/Δ mutant and found that it exhibited increased sensitivity to the DNA damaging agent, methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) but not the DNA replication inhibitor, hydroxyurea (HU). Accordingly, RT-qPCR and western blotting analysis revealed the activation of SLX4 expression in response to MMS. The deletion of SLX4 resulted in a defect in the recovery from MMS-induced filamentation to yeast form and re-entry into the cell cycle. Like many other DNA repair genes, SLX4 expression was activated by the checkpoint kinase Rad53 under MMS-induced DNA damage. In addition, SLX4 was not required for the inactivation of the DNA damage checkpoint, as indicated by normal phosphorylation of Rad53 in slx4Δ/Δ cells. Therefore, our results demonstrate SLX4 plays an important role in cell recovery from MMS-induced DNA damage in C. albicans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueqing Wang
- Medical College, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Na Wang
- The Second High School Attached to Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100088, China
| | - Jia Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Yaxuan Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Xiaojiaoyang Li
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Qi Han
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
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17
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Abstract
Candida parapsilosis has emerged as a frequent cause of invasive candidiasis with increasing evidence of unique biological features relative to C. albicans As it adapts to conditions within a mammalian host, rapid changes in gene expression are necessary to facilitate colonization and persistence in this environment. Adhesion of the organism to biological surfaces is a key first step in this process and is the focus of this study. Building on previous observations showing the importance of a member of the ALS gene family in C. parapsilosis adhesion, three clinical isolates were cultured under two conditions that mimic the mammalian host and promote adhesion, incubation at 37°C in tissue culture medium 199 or in human plasma. Transcriptional profiles using RNA-seq were obtained in these adhesion-inducing conditions and compared to profiles following growth in yeast media that suppress adhesion to identify gene expression profiles associated with adhesion. Overall gene expression profiles among the three strains were similar in both adhesion-inducing conditions and distinct from adhesion-suppressing conditions. Pairwise analysis among the three growth conditions identified 133 genes that were differentially expressed at a cutoff of ±4-fold, with the most upregulated genes significantly enriched in iron acquisition and transmembrane transport, while the most downregulated genes were enriched in oxidation-reduction processes. Gene family enrichment analysis identified gene families with diverse functions that may have an important role in this important step for colonization and disease.IMPORTANCE Invasive Candida infections are frequent complications of the immunocompromised and are associated with substantive morbidity and mortality. Although C. albicans is the best-studied species, emerging infections by non-albicans Candida species have led to increased efforts to understand aspects of their pathogenesis that are unique from C. albicans C. parapsilosis is a frequent cause of invasive infections, particularly among premature infants. Recent efforts have identified important virulence mechanisms that have features distinct from C. albicans C. parapsilosis can exist outside a host environment and therefore requires rapid modifications when it encounters a mammalian host to prevent its clearance. An important first step in the process is adhesion to host surfaces. This work takes a global, nonbiased approach to investigate broad changes in gene expression that accompany efficient adhesion. As such, biological pathways and individual protein targets are identified that may be amenable to manipulation to reduce colonization and disease from this organism.
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18
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Plaza V, Silva-Moreno E, Castillo L. Breakpoint: Cell Wall and Glycoproteins and their Crucial Role in the Phytopathogenic Fungi Infection. Curr Protein Pept Sci 2021; 21:227-244. [PMID: 31490745 DOI: 10.2174/1389203720666190906165111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Revised: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The cell wall that surrounds fungal cells is essential for their survival, provides protection against physical and chemical stresses, and plays relevant roles during infection. In general, the fungal cell wall is composed of an outer layer of glycoprotein and an inner skeletal layer of β-glucans or α- glucans and chitin. Chitin synthase genes have been shown to be important for septum formation, cell division and virulence. In the same way, chitin can act as a potent elicitor to activate defense response in several plant species; however, the fungi can convert chitin to chitosan during plant infection to evade plant defense mechanisms. Moreover, α-1,3-Glucan, a non-degradable polysaccharide in plants, represents a key feature in fungal cell walls formed in plants and plays a protective role for this fungus against plant lytic enzymes. A similar case is with β-1,3- and β-1,6-glucan which are essential for infection, structure rigidity and pathogenicity during fungal infection. Cell wall glycoproteins are also vital to fungi. They have been associated with conidial separation, the increase of chitin in conidial cell walls, germination, appressorium formation, as well as osmotic and cell wall stress and virulence; however, the specific roles of glycoproteins in filamentous fungi remain unknown. Fungi that can respond to environmental stimuli distinguish these signals and relay them through intracellular signaling pathways to change the cell wall composition. They play a crucial role in appressorium formation and penetration, and release cell wall degrading enzymes, which determine the outcome of the interaction with the host. In this review, we highlight the interaction of phypatophogen cell wall and signaling pathways with its host and their contribution to fungal pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verónica Plaza
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Departamento de Biología, Universidad de La Serena, La Serena, Chile
| | - Evelyn Silva-Moreno
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco, Chile
| | - Luis Castillo
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Departamento de Biología, Universidad de La Serena, La Serena, Chile
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19
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Arias LS, Butcher MC, Short B, McKloud E, Delaney C, Kean R, Monteiro DR, Williams C, Ramage G, Brown JL. Chitosan Ameliorates Candida auris Virulence in a Galleria mellonella Infection Model. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020; 64:e00476-20. [PMID: 32482674 PMCID: PMC7526850 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00476-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Candida auris has emerged as a multidrug-resistant nosocomial pathogen over the last decade. Outbreaks of the organism in health care facilities have resulted in life-threatening invasive candidiasis in over 40 countries worldwide. Resistance by C. auris to conventional antifungal drugs such as fluconazole and amphotericin B means that alternative therapeutics must be explored. As such, this study served to investigate the efficacy of a naturally derived polysaccharide called chitosan against aggregative (Agg) and nonaggregative (non-Agg) isolates of C. aurisin vitro and in vivo. In vitro results indicated that chitosan was effective against planktonic and sessile forms of Agg and non-Agg C. auris In a Galleria mellonella model to assess C. auris virulence, chitosan treatment was shown to ameliorate killing effects of both C. auris phenotypes (NCPF 8973 and NCPF 8978, respectively) in vivo Specifically, chitosan reduced the fungal load and increased survival rates of infected Galleria, while treatment alone was nontoxic to the larvae. Finally, chitosan treatment appeared to induce a stress-like gene expression response in NCPF 8973 in the larvae likely arising from a protective response by the organism to resist antifungal activity of the compound. Taken together, results from this study demonstrate that naturally derived compounds such as chitosan may be useful alternatives to conventional antifungals against C. auris.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laís Salomão Arias
- Oral Sciences Research Group, Glasgow Dental School, School of Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Dentistry, Department of Preventive and Restorative Dentistry, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mark C Butcher
- Oral Sciences Research Group, Glasgow Dental School, School of Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Glasgow Biofilm Research Network, Glasgow Dental School, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Bryn Short
- Oral Sciences Research Group, Glasgow Dental School, School of Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Glasgow Biofilm Research Network, Glasgow Dental School, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Emily McKloud
- Oral Sciences Research Group, Glasgow Dental School, School of Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Glasgow Biofilm Research Network, Glasgow Dental School, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Chris Delaney
- Oral Sciences Research Group, Glasgow Dental School, School of Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Glasgow Biofilm Research Network, Glasgow Dental School, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Ryan Kean
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Glasgow Biofilm Research Network, Glasgow Dental School, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Douglas Roberto Monteiro
- São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Dentistry, Department of Preventive and Restorative Dentistry, São Paulo, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Dentistry, University of Western São Paulo (UNOESTE), Prudente/São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Craig Williams
- Oral Sciences Research Group, Glasgow Dental School, School of Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Glasgow Biofilm Research Network, Glasgow Dental School, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Gordon Ramage
- Oral Sciences Research Group, Glasgow Dental School, School of Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Glasgow Biofilm Research Network, Glasgow Dental School, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Jason L Brown
- Oral Sciences Research Group, Glasgow Dental School, School of Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Glasgow Biofilm Research Network, Glasgow Dental School, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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20
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Laundon D, Chrismas N, Wheeler G, Cunliffe M. Chytrid rhizoid morphogenesis resembles hyphal development in multicellular fungi and is adaptive to resource availability. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20200433. [PMID: 32517626 PMCID: PMC7341943 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.0433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Key to the ecological prominence of fungi is their distinctive cell biology, our understanding of which has been principally based on dikaryan hyphal and yeast forms. The early-diverging Chytridiomycota (chytrids) are ecologically important and a significant component of fungal diversity, yet their cell biology remains poorly understood. Unlike dikaryan hyphae, chytrids typically attach to substrates and feed osmotrophically via anucleate rhizoids. The evolution of fungal hyphae appears to have occurred from rhizoid-bearing lineages and it has been hypothesized that a rhizoid-like structure was the precursor to multicellular hyphae. Here, we show in a unicellular chytrid, Rhizoclosmatium globosum, that rhizoid development exhibits striking similarities with dikaryan hyphae and is adaptive to resource availability. Rhizoid morphogenesis exhibits analogous patterns to hyphal growth and is controlled by β-glucan-dependent cell wall synthesis and actin polymerization. Chytrid rhizoids growing from individual cells also demonstrate adaptive morphological plasticity in response to resource availability, developing a searching phenotype when carbon starved and spatial differentiation when interacting with particulate organic matter. We demonstrate that the adaptive cell biology and associated developmental plasticity considered characteristic of hyphal fungi are shared more widely across the Kingdom Fungi and therefore could be conserved from their most recent common ancestor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davis Laundon
- Marine Biological Association of the UK, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, UK
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Nathan Chrismas
- Marine Biological Association of the UK, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, UK
- School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Glen Wheeler
- Marine Biological Association of the UK, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, UK
| | - Michael Cunliffe
- Marine Biological Association of the UK, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, UK
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
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21
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Phosphate in Virulence of Candida albicans and Candida glabrata. J Fungi (Basel) 2020; 6:jof6020040. [PMID: 32224872 PMCID: PMC7344514 DOI: 10.3390/jof6020040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 03/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida species are the most commonly isolated invasive human fungal pathogens. A role for phosphate acquisition in their growth, resistance against host immune cells, and tolerance of important antifungal medications is becoming apparent. Phosphorus is an essential element in vital components of the cell, including chromosomes and ribosomes. Producing the energy currency of the cell, ATP, requires abundant inorganic phosphate. A comparison of the network of regulators and effectors that controls phosphate acquisition and intracellular distribution, the PHO regulon, between the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a plant saprobe, its evolutionarily close relative C. glabrata, and the more distantly related C. albicans, highlights the need to coordinate phosphate homeostasis with adenylate biosynthesis for ATP production. It also suggests that fungi that cope with phosphate starvation as they invade host tissues, may link phosphate acquisition to stress responses as an efficient mechanism of anticipatory regulation. Recent work indicates that connections among the PHO regulon, Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 signaling, oxidative stress management, and cell wall construction are based both in direct signaling links, and in the provision of phosphate for sufficient metabolic intermediates that are substrates in these processes. Fundamental differences in fungal and human phosphate homeostasis may offer novel drug targets.
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22
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Phosphoric Metabolites Link Phosphate Import and Polysaccharide Biosynthesis for Candida albicans Cell Wall Maintenance. mBio 2020; 11:mBio.03225-19. [PMID: 32184254 PMCID: PMC7078483 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03225-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida species cause hundreds of thousands of invasive infections with high mortality each year. Developing novel antifungal agents is challenging due to the many similarities between fungal and human cells. Maintaining phosphate balance is essential for all organisms but is achieved completely differently by fungi and humans. A protein that imports phosphate into fungal cells, Pho84, is not present in humans and is required for normal cell wall stress resistance and cell wall integrity signaling in C. albicans. Nucleotide sugars, which are phosphate-containing building block molecules for construction of the cell wall, are diminished in cells lacking Pho84. Cell wall-constructing enzymes may be slowed by lack of these building blocks, in addition to being inhibited by drugs. Combined targeting of Pho84 and cell wall-constructing enzymes may provide a strategy for antifungal therapy by which two sequential steps of cell wall maintenance are blocked for greater potency. The Candida albicans high-affinity phosphate transporter Pho84 is required for normal Target of Rapamycin (TOR) signaling, oxidative stress resistance, and virulence of this fungal pathogen. It also contributes to C. albicans’ tolerance of two antifungal drug classes, polyenes and echinocandins. Echinocandins inhibit biosynthesis of a major cell wall component, beta-1,3-glucan. Cells lacking Pho84 were hypersensitive to other forms of cell wall stress beyond echinocandin exposure, while their cell wall integrity signaling response was weak. Metabolomics experiments showed that levels of phosphoric intermediates, including nucleotides like ATP and nucleotide sugars, were low in pho84 mutant compared to wild-type cells recovering from phosphate starvation. Nonphosphoric precursors like nucleobases and nucleosides were elevated. Outer cell wall phosphomannan biosynthesis requires a nucleotide sugar, GDP-mannose. The nucleotide sugar UDP-glucose is the substrate of enzymes that synthesize two major structural cell wall polysaccharides, beta-1,3- and beta-1,6-glucan. Another nucleotide sugar, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, is the substrate of chitin synthases which produce a stabilizing component of the intercellular septum and of lateral cell walls. Lack of Pho84 activity, and phosphate starvation, potentiated pharmacological or genetic perturbation of these enzymes. We posit that low substrate concentrations of beta-d-glucan- and chitin synthases, together with pharmacologic inhibition of their activity, diminish enzymatic reaction rates as well as the yield of their cell wall-stabilizing products. Phosphate import is not conserved between fungal and human cells, and humans do not synthesize beta-d-glucans or chitin. Hence, inhibiting these processes simultaneously could yield potent antifungal effects with low toxicity to humans.
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24
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Han Q, Wang N, Pan C, Wang Y, Sang J. Elevation of cell wall chitin via Ca 2+ -calcineurin-mediated PKC signaling pathway maintains the viability of Candida albicans in the absence of β-1,6-glucan synthesis. Mol Microbiol 2019; 112:960-972. [PMID: 31240791 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
β-1,6-glucan is an important cell wall component of Candida albicans. Deleted mutants of the two β-1,6-glucan synthase genes KRE6 and SKN1 are viable albeit with a range of defects including slow growth. It remains unclear whether β-1,6-glucan synthesis is not required under culture conditions or compensatory mechanisms exist in C. albicans. Here, we report that depleting β-1,6-glucan synthases leads to a significant increase in cell wall chitin levels through the posttranscriptional regulation of the chitin synthase Chs3 which maintains cell viability. And depleting β-1,6-glucan synthases in chs3Δ/Δ cells results in cell death. The elevation of cell wall chitin is mediated by the activation of the PKC signaling pathway and an unknown pathway(s) involving Ca2+ -calcineurin. Also, kre6Δ/Δ skn1Δ/Δ cells are not more susceptible to caspofungin, the antifungal drug that inhibits β-1,3-glucan synthases, suggesting that β-1,3-glucan has no role in compensating β-1,6-glucan synthesis. Given the vital importance of elevating chitin synthesis in the absence of β-1,6-glucan synthesis in C. albicans, antifungal drugs targeting β-1,6-glucan and chitin synthesis could be used in combination therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Han
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Na Wang
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Chaoying Pan
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Wang
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore.,Depatment of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jianli Sang
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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